Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Smash Starts for Week 9 Include Courtland Sutton, Rome Odunze, Ladd McConkey, Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs

The WR position is in continual flux this season. With in-season trades and multiple injuries, the position has been anything but stagnant.

This week added to the WR drama as Diontae Johnson was dealt to the Ravens after they collapsed against their division rivals. Stefon Diggs went down with a torn ACL, and Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua returned from injury.

As a result, there is never a dull moment when you play fantasy. My name is Ellis Johnson and this is my weekly smash WR start article. Last week, we hit on Cedric Tillman, Elijah Moore, and Kyle Pitts. I hope to keep this momentum going into the next week!

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Courtland Sutton (WR, DEN)

At this point, the Ravens secondary is an easy one to target for fantasy. On the season, it is allowing 190 yards and 1.6 touchdowns per week to the WR position. Seriously, 1.6 touchdowns is an unworldly number. Especially when the Ravens now face a Broncos team that has less than 1.6 viable receivers on their roster.

Sutton has been the core of this offense all year. Outside of a surprise goose against a weak Saints team, he has been one of the only constants on this team. Last week, he had a wild 11 targets on Bo Nix’s 37 attempts (29.7%), and it was his third week this season with double-digit targets.

This game might not be very exciting from a fantasy standpoint. Either the Broncos defense keeps them in it, or they get boat-raced. Considering the Ravens are holding RBs to 55 rushing yards per game, Sutton will be heavily involved regardless of the game script. I have him as a top-15 player this week.

Every young QB needs a Courtland Sutton, folks.

The dude is special. #Broncos pic.twitter.com/VaDyAwHDBt

— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) October 28, 2024

Rome Odunze (WR, CHI)

This is a tough player to project, but I have a good feeling about the rookie WR this week. So far, this team has been a lot like the Packers without Jordan Love’s gunslinging arm and offensive production.

By this, I am referring to the fact that Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and Odunze all split the targets. It’s nearly impossible to predict who will be the most productive, but this week I’m putting my money on Odunze.

Throughout the year, Odunze has had modest production and weekly targets. He has been playing better football than his box scores indicate, and I think last week was just a glance at what he can become. Although he only had three receptions on six targets for 41 yards, he also had two rush attempts for 13 yards.

Last week may not have been a lot, but I always like seeing players schemed to get the ball on designed runs. Plus, last week was the Bears' first week back from their bye week, and rookies generally see an increase in production after their bye weeks. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that coming off the bye, their coaches made a point of getting him the ball.

The Cardinals are currently allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in the red zone. With Odunze’s massive frame and athletic ability, I think it’s time he scored his second career touchdown this week.

Nasty route by Rome Odunze pic.twitter.com/hRMtPEDjo5

— Dave (@dave_bfr) October 27, 2024

Ladd McConkey (WR, LAC)

The last time I highlighted McConkey in this article, it might have been my worst call of the series. That week, he was going against the Cardinals and finished with five receptions for 46 yards. I’m going back to the well this week and hoping to redeem myself for my previous call.

McConkey has been very solid all season. With six or more targets and 40+ yards in every game but one this season, the rookie is on a very steady trajectory. Last week, we saw some special playmaking ability, bringing in a contested catch and avoiding tackles to complete a 60-yard touchdown. He later scored again, doubling his season-long touchdown total.

This week, he faces a Cleveland Browns team that is riding high off their divisional upset last week. The good news about this Browns team is that they look like a functional offense that is not afraid to put up points. As a result, the Chargers may be forced away from running the ball every play and rely on their passing game.

The Browns are vulnerable through the air, averaging 150 yards and 1.1 touchdowns to the WR position per game. Justin Herbert is playing great football this season, despite his modest stat lines. I trust Herbert to find McConkey to keep drives alive and potentially hit pay dirt. I have him as a top-24 play this week.

Ladd McConkey's Week 8 film is sweet. You really see all of the skills (route running, stemming off routes to make an easy target, ball-tracking, YAC) that made him a great prospect translate to the NFL.

And I think you really see Herbert's immense trust in him on display on… pic.twitter.com/d4QHWQmM9G

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) October 28, 2024

Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs (WR, IND)

If you roster a Colts skill-position player (outside of Anthony Richardson), hearing that Joe Flacco is starting this week might give you a much-needed flex play or WR2. It's clear that these receivers are good at football and just can’t get it done with Richardson under center.

Out of these two players, Downs has been the most consistent since returning from injury. This offense lives through his short-yardage receptions and yards after the catch. With nine or more targets in four of his six games, it’s clear he needs to be a weekly play.

Pittman, on the other hand, has had decent targets but has failed to turn them into fantasy production. With five or more targets in every game, he has a very safe floor. What is especially appealing is that his best two fantasy games this season have come with Flacco under center. 

These two receivers go against a Vikings team that is presumed to be a bad matchup. However, even though the Vikings are a great defense, they have struggled against receivers. More specifically, they struggle against slot receivers. We also just saw both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have nice weeks against this team on Thursday Night Football in Week 8.

Because of the matchup and target share, I prefer Downs and will rank him as a top-15 player. Pittman is also worth a start and will also be ranked inside of my top 24. This is a sneaky great matchup for the Colts passing attack, and I think Alec Pierce may also be worth a desperation play.

Josh Downs was a problem against the Texans man coverage in Week 8, both on plays he got the ball and plays he didn't. Downs is a legit downfield weapon from the slot, and the type of WR a healthy passing game can feed 100 catches in a season.

Some in-season… pic.twitter.com/mocJi5NIze

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) October 28, 2024

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